Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Summary
Despite the perceived failure of Ben Affleck’sDaredevil, Jennifer Garner was still bestowed a soloElektramovie by 20th Century Fox. 2003’sDaredevilstarred Affleck and Garner as Daredevil and Elektra,Marvel’s tragic lovers and vigilante duo. While many considerDaredevilto be a disappointment, including some of the stars themselves, it was nothing like spin-offElektra, which boasts one of the worst reputations in superhero movie history - prompting speculation as to why it was ever made in the first place.
DaredevilandElektrawere produced by 20th Century Fox in the early era of Marvel movies. As such, they helped pave the way forthe MCU timelineand the modern era of comic book movies. This legacy is celebrated byDeadpool & Wolverine, which honors the legacy of Fox’s Marvel movies.Deadpool & Wolverinebids farewell to Fox’s Marvel franchise,and in the process, has redeemed Garner’s catastrophicElektramovie.
Daredevilis often retrospectively considered a flop, but itsinitial performance was relatively successful. Despite its mixed reviews,Daredevilopened to a strong $40.5 million in its opening weekend - $45 million including President’s Day the following Monday.Daredevilwent on to gross $179.1 million worldwide against a production budget of $78 million (viaSlashFilm).
While these figures may not seem impressive by today’s standards, especially when compared to the monumental successes of the MCU films, they werequite respectable at the time.Daredevilmanaged to earn back more than twice its budget, which is a key metric in determining a film’s financial success. However, it is also not quite enough to justify a sprawling franchise.
The critics were equally vague, withan overall lukewarm reception forDaredevil. Many praisedDaredevilfor its gloomy tone and blend of humor and action. Others cited the central performances by Garner, Affleck, and Michael Clarke Duncan, along with a handful of specific scenes as notable highlights.
On the other hand, some unfavorable critics pointed toDaredevil’s tonal inconsistencies and lackluster execution.Ben Affleck himself has even stated that he hatedDaredevilso much that iturged him to play Batman in the DCEU. Nevertheless, this minor success was enough to warrant some form of a sequel.
Fox Greenlit Elektra In Lieu Of Daredevil 2, But It Was A Bigger Flop
Following the release ofDaredevil, 20th Century Fox faced a decision regarding the future of the franchise. In 2004 Ben Affleck expressed willingness to return for a sequelonly if it adopted a darker tone, which he noted would have required much negotiation (viaIESB). Instead of proceeding withAffleck’s plan forDaredevil 2, Fox opted to create a spin-off centered on Jennifer Garner’s Elektra.
Elektra was released in 2005.
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Elektraquickly proved to be an even bigger flop than its predecessor. The film was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews, criticized for its bland plot, uninspired action sequences, and overall failure to capture the depth of its source material. Garner’s performance, while praised for her effort, wasnot enough to save the filmfrom its poorly constructed narrative and direction.
Financially,Elektrafared poorly at the box office, grossing only $56 million worldwide against a production budget of $43 million (viaBox Office Mojo). This performance was a stark contrast toDaredevilandsolidified the spin-off’s status as a definitive failure. The film’s unimpressive earnings and critical reception essentially extinguished hopes for a continuation of theDaredevilfranchise.
Ben Affleck’s stipulation for a darker sequel underscores a missed opportunity. A grittier, more matureDaredevil 2could have potentially aligned better with the evolving tastes of superhero film audiences - who were beginning to embrace more complex and nuanced portrayals over mindless spectacle. TheDaredevilfranchise subsequently stalled until the triumphant Netflix series, whichadopted the darker, grittier tone that Affleck had wantedforDaredevil 2.
What Jennifer Garner Has Said About Elektra
Jennifer Garner has openly lamented her involvement inElektra. She was unenthusiastic about the solo movie but was contracted to appear in aDaredevilsequel. She reportedly disliked the project from the outset and found the experience of makingElektrato be thoroughly unenjoyable. She is purported to havedescribed the movie as“awful”while still in productionand even encouraged her friends not to watch it (viaSFGate).
In hindsight,Garner has reflected on the missed opportunitieswith bothDaredevilandElektra. She noted that hadDaredevilbeen made under the auspices of the MCU, itmight have been a vastly different and more successful endeavor. Garner pointed out that the involvement of Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the MCU, has significantly elevated the quality and coherence of superhero films. Garner commented that:
It’s such a shame, honestly, because once Kevin took over everything there was elevated: the writing, the direction, the comedy inside of the stories they were telling. And I did not have that experience.
Indeed, Feige’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in crafting a cinematic universe that respects the source material and resonates deeply with audiences,somethingDaredevilandElektrafailed to achieve. Garner’s reflections underscore the potential that was squandered in the early 2000s adaptations of Marvel properties. Her experience withElektraserves as a cautionary tale about handling beloved comic book characters with the appropriate reverence.
How Jennifer Garner’s Elektra Return In Deadpool & Wolverine Redeems Her Marvel Movie Flop
Jennifer Garner’scameo inDeadpool & Wolverineis a major redemption for her solo movieElektra. The cameo presented Elektra in a fresh light,offering a thrilling fight scene and much-improved action sequencesthat were absent in her standalone film. The dynamic and thrilling fight scene in the Void at theend ofDeadpool & Wolverinewas a standout moment. It was arguably the first decent follow-up to Garner’s iconic training montage inDaredevilset to Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life.”
This new portrayal was more serious and stoic, aligning better with Elektra’s character from the comics and providing a stark contrast to the solo movie’s inconsistent tone. Garner’s Elektra isshowcased as a formidable and enigmatic figure, delivering a performance that emphasizes her lethal skills and complex personality. The fight scene in which she engages is meticulously choreographed, displaying her martial prowess in a way that the 2005Elektrafilm failed to achieve.
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Moreover, the tone ofDeadpool & Wolverineallowed Elektra’s serious nature to shine. While the movie itself contains the trademark humor and irreverence associated with Deadpool, it frequently contrasts this against more stern characters. Elektra’s portrayal benefited immensely from this approach. Unlike her solo movie,which struggled with a childish tone that clashed with her character’s serious demeanor,Deadpool & Wolverineprovided a cohesive environment where her stoicism felt natural and integral to the story. Indeed, Garner’s cameo proved whatElektracould have been.
Elektra
Cast
Elektra is a 2005 film featuring Jennifer Garner as the titular character who survives a near-death experience and becomes an assassin-for-hire. The film follows Elektra as she attempts to protect a single father and his young daughter from a group of supernatural assassins.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
